In the spirit of "Why don't we get out more?" , SO and I tooled down to Sarasota from Tampa to see the Ringling "campus". The drive took exactly one hour, or it would have if we hadn't taken the scenic route down Longboat Key, which turned out to be only semi-scenic. As happens so often in Florida, the view of the water was mostly obstructed by condos and hotels; but it was our first trip, and there were enough breathtaking vistas of blue-green water to keep us happy.

The Ringling complex consists of 4 attractions in a setting of manicured walkways, parkland and out-of-this-world banyan trees: the art museum, the mansion (Ca d'Zan), the Tibbals circus museum, and the historic Asolo theater. One ticket buys admission to all four, and they offer steep military and student/teacher discounts--cool! They also have golf carts to ferry you from building to building, but the walks are very short in any case. (http://ringling.org/)

The museum is best known for its large collection of Rubens paintings and tapestries; the collection as a whole emphasizes European art from the 16th-17th centuries, in a beautifully maintained Italianate villa.

Ca d'Zan, the winter home of John and Mabel Ringling, is delightful. Modeled after the Palace of the Doges in Venice, it is today very well-kept and furnished, and the docent-led tour, while slightly marred in our case by a couple of gaffes (ladies in the 1920's wore hoop skirts?), is evocative of the Ringlings and their era. The views of Sarasota Bay from the terrace are a treat.

Our last stop was the Tibbals museum, and what a surprise that was. Mr. Tibbals is a man obsessed with creating a to-scale replica of a circus arriving in a typical small town--the thing occupies a *really* big room and is well worth a look.

The entire complex belongs to Florida State University now, and as I've said, it's all very well kept, from the grounds to the buildings to the exhibits. We stopped for a bite at the Banyan Cafe, which is very basic: hotdogs, fries, pre-made boxed sandwiches, overpriced, of course, as museum food tends to be, but convenient if slightly grungy. There's a fancier restaurant, Treviso, in the Visitor's Center, but I can't comment on it.

We then decided it was after 5 o'clock somewhere and headed to St. Armand's Circle for a drink and to ponder dinner. Alit at the Cork (http://www.corkonthecircle.com/menus.php), a liquor store and restaurant with a tiny but very sharp, Euro-style bar in the front. And hey, it was 2-for-1 Happy Hour! Having parked near the Crab and Fin restaurant, we stumbled back there for dinner (http://www.crabfinrestaurant.com/). I'd give it three stars: good, fresh seafood, nothing fried in sight, and an honest waiter who told us what was fresh (everything but the Alaskan King Crab--duh, not in season.) And hey, we were seated in time for Early Dining! OK, we party like geriatrics, but who cares, it's 20% off until 5:45pm, and you get free soup or salad--very cool!

St. Armand's Circle boasts at least two ice cream places, one of them a Ben and Jerry's, but we chose to live to fight another day and took ourselves home, well-pleased with our outing and planning a return to Sarasota to check out Mote Marine Lab and Aquarium and to explore the Keys (Longboat, Siesta and Lido) and Anna Maria Island.

Great report! I'm in Tampa too and love to visit the Ringling Museum and Ca d'Zan as well but never visit enough.

I live in Tampa as well and go to Ringling fairly often. The museum restaurant is very good. Similiar to the one at the Art Institute. The service can be a bit slow, but if you sit outside, there is a lovely view and it is fun to watch people coming and going. When they remodeled the complex and added the new wing, they made the Museum a real destination. Love it.

Thanks for the great report. When were were there a wedding took place on the terrace. Fun to watch. They did not close it off and anyone could still go on the terrace.

Don't forget Casey Key. That's my favorite. It is so narrow, intercoastal on one side and the bay on the other. Some real mcmansions. Selby Gardens is nice too.

Thanks for the report NewbE; it brought back great memories of a long weekend in Sarasota. We loved Ca d'Zan!

In the same spirit of "Why don't we get out more?" I told DH that I want to visit Marjorie Kinnan Rawling's house at Cross Creek. Your post made me think of it, and I think I'll post an "anyone been?" inquiry.

Not to hijack but I have been to Marjorie Kinnan Rawling's house at Cross Creek and really enjoyed it. I haven't even read her books but found the tour to be very informative and you could really get a great feel of old Florida there.

NewbE ! Thank you for an excellent report and for bringing back some great memories of our trip to Sarasota ...